Steam-generator for automobiles and the like.



A. W. CAPS & R. F. MIEHLE, JR. STEAM GENERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THELIKE. APPLICATION FILED 1112.23, 1909.

1;011,117, Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- Allorneys A. W. GAPS & R. P. MIEHLE, JR. STEAM GENERATOR FORAUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED P151123, 1909.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

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2. an Allvrnvya COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON, D. C.

A. W. GAPS & R. F. MIEHLE, JR. STEAM GENERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THELIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1909.

1,011,117, Patented Dec.5, 1911.

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Q/M/ nz/enlo 115 W 1 STATS a n ARTHUR W. GAPS AND ROBERT F. IVIIEHLE,JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID CAPS ASSIGNOR TO ANNA M. MIEHLE, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-GENERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR W. CAPS and ROBERT F. MIEHLE, J r., citizensof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Generators for Automobiles and the Like, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact specification.

Our invention relates to steam generators of the water tube type andmore especially to the type known as water level boilers or generatorscomprising a combination of water tubes coupled to water chambers oflarger diameter, and the invention has for its primary object to providean improved generator of this type which shall be condensed in height soas to work well with a down draft and which will have sufficient steamgenerating surface and be capable of withstanding an extraordinary highpressure and be free from danger of injury from overheating should thewater become exhausted.

With a view to the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment ofother objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention consists incertain features of novelty in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts which will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and then more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the said drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam generatorembodying this invention, showing the casing in vertical section. Fig. 2is a side elevation of the thermostat for regulating the water supply.Fig. 3 is a plan view of the generator with the casing removed. Fig. 4is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the generator. Fig. 5 is aplan View of the flash coil showing its relation to the manifold pipefor the terminals of the tubes hereinafter described. Fig. 6 is a detailvertical section of the standpipe or drum, and Fig. 7 is an enlargedplan view thereof partly broken away, showing the elbows or fittingsWhereby the tubes are connected thereto.

The tubular portion of the generator with the exception of the flasherand superheating coil, which will be presently described, is composed ofa plurality of layers of parallel concentric tubes, which, however, in-

stead of lying in flat planes, are coiled in Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 23, 1909.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911. Serial No. 479,435.

slightly conical spiral form, so that their interiors will constitutespiral passages gradually inclined from their upper to their lower ends.The tubes are connected at one end to a stand pipe and at the other endto a manifold pipe, as will be presently described. In this example ofthe invention, each of these layers of tubes is composed of four tubes.In the plan view, Fig. 3, the top layer only is, of course, whollyvisible, and it is composed of four tubes, 1, 2, 3, 1, whose upper endsare connected in the same horizontal plane to the upper end of astand-pipe or drum 5 by means of four elbows 6, 7, 8, 9 respectively,while their lower ends, after each is carried at least once around tocomplete the top layer of tubes, is carried downwardly and connected toa manifold pipe or tube 10, which is arranged in a horizontal plane, andat the extreme lower end of the boiler below the lower end of thestand-pipe or drum 5, and below all of the layers of tubes. In orderthat the manifold pipe 10 may not be unduly weakened by the formation ofthe large number of holes therein that would be necessary if each of thetubes of all of the various tube layers were connected directly thereto,such tubes instead of being directly connected, are connected in pairsto two-way fittings or Ys, each having a nipple 11 and two branches 12,13, the nipple 11 being screwed directly into the manifold pipe 10,while the branch 12 accommodates a tube belonging to one layer, and thebranch 13 a tube belonging to another layer. By thus connecting thetubes to the manifold pipe not only is the strength of the pipeconserved, but by employing the nipples 11 of graduated length, asindicated in Fig. 1, the large portion or body of each of the fittingsmay be arranged in a separate plane. affording ample room formanipulating the unions whereby the tubes are connected to theirrespective branches 12, 13, and the removal of top coils independentlyof the bottom coils is facilitated. Some of the tubes, whereverconvenient, however, may be connected directly to the manifold pipe 10by means of suitable fittings or unions, as indicated at 14 in Fig. 1.The tubes belonging to the layers at the lower levels too low down toenable the lower ends of the tubes to be bent downwardly like the lowerends of the tubes 1, 2, 3, 4, may be connected to the manifold pipe 10by means of elbows 15 and unions 16, an example of which is shown inFig. 5 in plan view, while two of the elbows are indicated in Figs. 1and 4- Fig. 4 shows the extreme lower layer of tubes 17, which areconnected to these elbows 15 respectively.

Immediately below the lowermost layer 17 of tubes is arranged asuper-heating coil 18, which may be supported in any suitable way, as,for example, by means of across bar 19, which'has its ends rested uponthe manifold pipe 10 between the tubes connected therewith, and is bentdownwardly at both'ends, as shown at 19 to prevent it from slipping outlongitudinally. One end of this super-heating coil is carried upwardlybeside the main coils of the generator and connected to the upper end ofthe drum or stand-pipe 5. For that purpose the fitting 7 is in the formof a T, and to one passage or branch thereof is connected the upperterminal of this super-heating coil, said terminal being indicated at20. The other terminal 21 of the super-heating coil is connected to theengine steam pipe 22, so that the steam super-heated in this coil willpass directly to the throttle. This terminal is also connected to awater supply pipe 23, in which is situated the supply pump 24: by meansof a branch pipe 25 having a valve 26 under the control of the operator,so that when desired, water may be admitted clirectly from the supplypipe into the superheating coil 18, which may then serve as acirculating coil for raising steam quickly at such times, for example,as when first starting the fire with the boiler in a cold state. Whensufficient steam has thus been generated for starting the engine, thevalve 26 may be closed, whenthe coil 18 will again resume its functionas a super-heating coil.

The main supply of water is admitted to the boiler, preferably directlyinto the manifold pipe 10, by any suitable means, such as the connection27 with the supply pipe 23. From the manifold 10 the heated water andsteam bubbles rise by reason of the upward currents induced in thesmaller tubes of the various coils which constitute gradually ascendingpassages therefor, and they eventually discharge into the drum orstand-pipe 5 at the various levels at which the upper ends of the tubesare connected thereto. In the stand-pipe or drum 5 the currents againdescend and discharge back through the tubes into the manifold pipe.WVhile excellent results are obtained by this arrangement, anotherdischarge branch or pipe 28, is provided, which is carried downwardlythrough the super-heating coil I 18, and thence outwardly where it isconnected to the manifold 10. In making this last named connection, theend of the pipe 28 is preferably first connected to a blow-off cook 29,so that sediment accumulating in the drum 5 may be readily discharged.It is then connected to a two-way coupling 30, to one branch of whichthe connection 27 is secured, and by means of which the return currentsfrom the bottom of thedrum 5 are admitted to the manifold 10. Themanifold pipe 10 does not constitute a complete circle, and as bettershown in Fig. 5, its ends are spaced from one another to permit theflame and the interior of the burner to be inspected, and to leave roomfor fittings or elbows 31, 32 for the attachment of two blow-offconnections 33, 34 respectively, which are turned downwardly, as shownin Fig. l, and provided with any suitable controlling means 35, wherebythey may be opened and closed at will for discharging sediment, etc.,from the manifold 10, or draining same of the water when desired. Theseelbows 31, 32 are preferably located directly in the ends of themanifold 10, so that by removing the elbows from the manifold, animplement may be inserted thereinto for scraping its interior andforcing out scale and other objectionable accumulation. In this exampleof the invention, the elbow 32 is provided with an additional branch orpassage in its upper side, whereby it may be utilized also for theconnection of one of the elbows 15, which at this place happens to fallat a point between the terminals of the manifold 10.

In order that the foam forming in the stand-pipe or drum 5 may not reachthe superheating coil 18, a perforated baffle plate 36 is interposed inthe drum at a point below that at which the upper terminal 20 of thecoil is connected thereto. Should it be desired to employ a thermostatin connection with the generator for regulating the supply of waterthereto, as required, it may be connected as shown in Fig. 2, or in anyother suitable way. If desired, a safety valve 37 may be employed, andwhen so employed, may be connected to the upper end of the drum 5, or tothe generator at any other suitable point by means of a pipe 38, whoseinner end is connected to the fitting 6. Below the generator thusconstructed may be situated a burner 39, of any suitable form, and theentire generator may be inclosed in a suitable casing 40, in which it issupported by means of brackets4c1, upon which the manifold pipe 10rests.

In order that the invention may stood, the details of an exemplificationthereof have been thus specifically described, but

What we claim is: 7 7

1. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe arranged around'the extended axis of the stand-pipe, and aplurality of tubes arranged in coils constituting layers, one aboveanother, the said tubes at one end being connected to the be undersaidstand-pipe and at the other end to said manifold pipe.

2. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same, a plurality of tubes arranged in coilsconstituting layers, one above another, said tubes being connected atone end to said stand-pipe and at the other end to said manifold pipeand each of said layers, being composed of a plurality of separatelengths of pipe.

3. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same at a low level with respect thereto,

and a plurality of tubes arranged in coils constituting layers one aboveanother, the upper ends of said tubes being connected with thestand-pipe and the lower ends with said manifold pipe.

4:. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe arranged in a horizontal plane and surrounding the stand-pipe at alow level with respect thereto, and a plurality of layers of tubeshaving their upper ends connected to the stand-pipe and their lower endsto the manifold pipe, each tube in each layer being gradually in clinedcontinuously from its upper to its lower end.

5. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the stand-pipe in a horizontal plane at a 10W levelwith respect thereto, a plurality of layers of coiled tubes arranged oneabove another around said stand-pipe and having their upper endsconnected thereto and their lower ends to said manifold pipe, each layerof tubes being composed of a multiplicity of parallel spirally coiledtubes gradually and continuously inclining from their upper ends totheir lower ends.

6. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the stand-pipe at a lower level with respect thereto,two way fittings connected with the manifold pipe, and a plurality oflayers of coiled tubes arranged one above another and having their upperends connected to said stand-pipe and the lower ends connected in pairsto the ways or branches respectively of said fittings.

7. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the stand-pipe at a low level with respect thereto,fittings connected with said manifold pipe, and a plurality of layers ofcoiled tubes arranged one above another and having their upper endsconnected with the stand-pipe and the lower end of one tube in one layerand the lower end of one tube in another layer connected to the same oneof said fittings.

8. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same at a low level with respect thereto, aplurality of layers of coiled tubes having their upper ends' connectedwith the standpipe and their lower ends with the manifold pipe, and aseparate connection from the bottom of the stand-pipe to the manifoldpipe for constituting direct communication between the stand-pipe andthe manifold pipe independently of said coils.

9. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same, a plurality of layers of coiled tubes havingtheir upper ends connected with the stand-pipe and their lower ends withthe manifold pipe, a direct connection independent of said tubes betweenthe bottom of the stand-pipe and the manifold pipe, and a blow-oflattachment leading from said connection.

10. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same at a low level with respect thereto, saidmanifold pipe having its ends spaced from one another, removable meansclosing said ends, and a plurality of coiled tubes having their upperends connected with said stand-pipe and their lower ends with saidmanifold pipe.

11. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same and having its ends spaced from one another,blow-off connections at the ends of said manifold pipe, and coiled tubeshaving their upper ends connected with the stand-pipe and their lowerends with the manifold pipe.

12. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand-pipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same at a low level with respect thereto, aplurality of coiled tubes having their upper ends connected with thestandpipe and the lower ends with the manifold pipe, a super-heatingcoil arranged under the first said coils of pipe and having one endconnected with the upper end of said stand-pipe, a pipe for supplyingsteam to the source of consumption connected with the other end of thesuper-heating coil, a water supply pipe connected with the latter saidend of the super-heating coil, and means for controlling the supply ofWater to the super-heating coil.

13. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand pipe, a manifoldpipe arranged around an extended axis of the standpipe, a plurality oftubes arranged in coils constituting layers, one above another, the saidtubes at one end being connected to the said standpipe and at the otherend to said manifold pipe, a super-heater connected with the upper endof the standpipe, and a water supply pipe connected with the other endof the super-heater.

14. In a steam generator, the combination of a stand pipe, a manifoldpipe arranged around an extended axis of the standpipe,

a plurality of tubes arranged in coils constituting layers, one aboveanother, the said tubes at one end being connected to the said standpipeand at the other end to said manifold pipe, a super-heater connectedWith the upper end of the standpipe, a Water supply pipe connected Withthe other end of the super-heater, and means for controlling the supplyof Water to said super-heater.

15. In a steam generator, the combination of a standpipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding thesame, a plurality of tubes arranged in coilsconstituting layers, one above another,

- said tubes being connected at one end to said standpipe and at theother end to said manifold pipe, a super-heating coil arranged under thefirst said coils of the pipe and having one end connected With the upperend of the standpipe, and a Water supply pipe connected With the otherend of the superheater.

16. In a steam generator, the combination of a standpipe, a manifoldpipe surrounding the same, a plurality of tubes arranged in coilsconstituting layers, one above another, said tubes being connected atone end to said standpipe and at the other end to said manifold pipe, asuper-heating coil arranged under the first said coils of the pipe andhavin one end connected With the upper end 0 the standpipe, a Watersupply pipe connected with the other end of the superheater. and meansfor controlling thesupply of Water to the super-heating coil.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscriblng Witnesses, on this 17th day of February,A. D. 1909. 3,,

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. SEEM, FRANCIS A. HOPKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

